A North Wales Police officer has been dismissed from the force following a misconduct hearing that found her actions at a drunken work social to be serious enough to warrant immediate termination.
PC Pamela Pritchard, 29, was found guilty of gross misconduct after a disciplinary panel concluded she had repeatedly breached professional standards during an alcohol-fueled night out with colleagues in March 2024.
The incidents took place at Caernarfon Rugby Club and involved multiple unwanted physical contacts, inappropriate language, and an attempted kiss with a senior officer.
Following a detailed investigation and internal hearing, the panel ruled that PC Pritchard’s conduct violated the force’s standards of authority, respect, and courtesy.
North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Chris Allsop confirmed that dismissal without notice was the only appropriate outcome.
“The panel found that the conduct reached the threshold of gross misconduct and posed a significant risk of reputational damage to the force,” Allsop said. “While everyone can make mistakes, there are occasions where the seriousness of behaviour leaves no alternative but dismissal.”
During the misconduct proceedings, two fellow officers provided formal testimony describing what they experienced during the night out.
One male officer, identified only as PC B, told the panel he was standing at the bar when PC Pritchard allegedly touched his groin without warning.
He said the contact was entirely unsolicited and left him feeling humiliated. He further claimed that she approached him again later in the smoking area and touched him a second time.
PC B also alleged that later in the evening, PC Pritchard sat on his knee, placed her hand around his neck, and kissed him on the lips without his consent. At the time, he was in a relationship and stated clearly that he had never given her permission to behave in that way.
A second officer, a woman identified as PC A, also gave evidence. She told the hearing that PC Pritchard approached her from behind on the dancefloor, wrapped her arms around her neck, and then moved her hands down to squeeze her breasts.
The panel also heard that PC Pritchard attempted to kiss a male inspector during the event, prompting him to pull away. Witnesses further reported that she shouted inappropriate comments and used offensive language toward another officer.
PC Pritchard, who had joined North Wales Police in 2023 after previously working for the NHS and as a prison officer, admitted that her behavior was inappropriate but denied that any of the physical contact was sexual in nature.
She told the hearing that she had no clear recollection of the events due to intoxication and maintained that any contact would have been accidental at most.
She also claimed that CCTV footage showed a consensual kiss with one male colleague, while accepting that she was “clearly very intoxicated” when she attempted to kiss the inspector.
“I don’t recognize myself in the footage,” she told the panel. “That’s not who I am. I would never intentionally offend anyone. I am a good person, and I am absolutely mortified by what has happened.”
Her legal representative argued that she should receive a final written warning rather than dismissal, citing strong professional testimonials that described her as dedicated and hard-working in her short time with the force.
However, the panel rejected that request, stating that the seriousness of the incidents and the potential damage to public trust made continued service impossible.
PC Pritchard, who is a mother of one, became visibly emotional during the hearing. She told the panel that the investigation had left her mentally distressed and struggling with thoughts of self-harm after being branded a “sexual predator” following colleagues’ complaints.
“I am deeply sorry for what happened,” she said through tears. “I have let down the police force, my family, my friends, and most of all my daughter. I think about this every single day.”
Despite her apology and emotional statement, the case against her was found proven on the balance of probabilities. Although she was questioned under police caution following the incident, she was not charged with any criminal offense.
North Wales Police confirmed that her dismissal took effect immediately and reiterated its commitment to maintaining professional standards and safeguarding public trust.